Intel to acquire Havok

Word has reached us that gaming tool developer Havok will be acquired by Intel. The Intel press release says that it will be a part of Intel’s visual computing and graphics efforts.

Havok is best known as a provider of gaming platform tools that are using a variety of software houses in the development of gaming titles for a wide array of gaming platforms. Havok’s tools have been used in such high profile games as BioShock, Halo 2, Crackdown, Motorstorm, and Half Life 2. Havok has also expanded into movies as well as providing technology development tools for movies such as “The Matrix,” “Troy,” “Kingdom of Heaven” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”

This is a smart buy for Intel, as we suspect that they will use their purchase of Havok to create development tools that run best with Intel processors. It also gives Intel a much needed inside track with gaming developers who have been working primarily with AMD in the past. While it might not seem to be a big deal on the surface, it could be a huge factor in gaming titles in the future that are optimized to run best on Intel processors.